American Express has opened a stylish new lounge at Sydney Airport, offering guests three times more space compared to the former lounge, as well as improved amenities and dining options.

The lounge is operated by global premium airport hospitality specialists Plaza Premium Group and is located near Gates 50-63 at the T1 international terminal.

Guests can enjoy:

• complimentary food and beverages featuring a variety of vegetarian, vegan and wellness options, a dedicated dining area, and live cooking stations
• full service bar including a selection of cocktails and wide selection of craft and international tap beers
• three shower suites featuring L’Occitane en Provence products
• quiet resting areas
• high-speed Wi-Fi
• charging stations
• flight information screens
• a selection of local and international magazines and newspapers.

Naysla Edwards, Vice President of Brand, Charge Cards and Experiences at American Express A/NZ said: “Airport lounge access continues to be one of the most valued benefits for our card members and we know from the success of our lounges around the world that travellers appreciate the stress-free environment, complimentary dining, and luxury amenities that our American Express Lounges offer.

“Opening this new, spacious and convenient American Express Lounge at Sydney Airport is part of our ongoing commitment to provide our card members with premium travel benefits, exceptional hospitality and best-in-class facilities and experiences. We look forward to welcoming travellers to our new card member lounge.”

Customers who hold the Platinum, Business Platinum and invite-only Centurion cards have unlimited access to the lounge and can also bring in up to 2 adult guests (the card member’s children up to 17 years of age enter for free).

The eligible cards listed below are entitled to two complimentary entries per calendar year (again, the card member’s children enter for free).

• American Express® Platinum Corporate Card
• American Express® Explorer™ Credit Card
• American Express® Business Explorer™ Credit Card
• American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card
• Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
• Qantas American Express® Corporate Platinum Card
• American Express Velocity Platinum Card
• American Express Airpoints Platinum Card

Card members can also pay for additional entries, costing $55 per adult and $35 for each child aged from 2-17 (free for those under two years).

The lounge is open from 6 am to 11 pm daily.

To get tips like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Air New Zealand is introducing a new, more spacious Economy product on its widebody fleet from late 2020, offering customers extra legroom and perks on long-haul flights.

“Economy Stretch” will use the current Economy seat but offer 35 inches of pitch (the distance from seat-back to seat-back). That’s four inches more than passengers get in Standard Economy, but less than the 41 inches offered in Premium Economy.

Economy Stretch customers will also receive a premium headset and plush pillow.

Air New Zealand is currently reconfiguring its Boeing 777-200, 777-300 and 787-9 aircraft to fit a stretch zone at the front of the Economy cabin, with up to 42 of these spacious spots.

Chief Revenue Officer Cam Wallace says it’s exciting to introduce further choice to the Economy cabin.

“We know one size doesn’t fit all and we want customers to have a fantastic experience, whatever the cabin. Economy customers told us they want more space and comfort and we’re looking forward to giving customers a new option when travelling long haul.

“While our premium cabins will remain the first choice for those wanting all the luxuries, Economy Stretch is a step-up at a competitive price, and we’re confident it will appeal.”

The new product will be available for purchase from early next year and will be offered on all Air New Zealand operated long-haul flights from late 2020.

To get news like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Virgin Australia will be increasing the “carrier charges” it levies on reward seat bookings as of 8 January 2020.

The carrier charge is part of the taxes and fees payable on reward seat bookings in addition to the points component. These taxes and fees can be paid with Velocity Points or a combination of Velocity Points and cash during the booking process.

In an email to Velocity Frequent Flyer members and an update posted on the Velocity website, the airline says this is necessary “to cover increased operating costs”. In reality, under new CEO Paul Scurrah’s turnaround plan for the struggling airline, all options for increasing revenue are being looked at and this is one area where Virgin has had a competitive advantage to Qantas.

Qantas actually reduced many of its high carrier charges recently.

The new carrier charges will be effective for bookings made on Virgin Australia operated flights as follows:

• Domestic and Trans-Tasman
  • Economy Class changes from $3.50 to $10.00
  • Business Class changes from $5.50 to $10.00
• International Short Haul
  • Economy Class changes from $25.00 to $35.00
  • Business Class changes from $50.00 to $70.00
• Hong Kong
  • Economy Class changes from $35.00 to $45.00
  • Business Class changes from $50.00 to $98.00
• Los Angeles – no changes

This is disappointing news from Virgin, but not surprising given the airline’s financial woes. Fortunately, the charges on partner reward seats are not changing.

Customers have until 7 January 2020 to lock in the current rates on Virgin Australia operated flights.

To get news like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

South America’s largest airline LATAM will leave the oneworld alliance as part of a surprise deal announced this morning that will see the SkyTeam member Delta take a 20% stake in the airline.

LATAM and Delta will cooperate on routes but LATAM hasn’t decided yet whether to join SkyTeam.

This will leave a big hole in oneworld’s network, which has no other members based in South America.

It’s not yet clear how this will affect Qantas’ partnership with LATAM. The airlines cooperate as alliance members, including by codesharing on each other’s networks and giving frequent flyers reciprocal benefits.

Some form of the existing arrangement can continue, of course. Qantas partners with airlines that aren’t in the oneworld alliance, including several SkyTeam members in which Delta also has a minority stake.

Stay tuned for more information as it comes to hand!

To get news like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter:

Qantas partner and aviation behemoth Emirates has applied to competition regulators to cancel its daily Brisbane-Singapore service (which continues on to Dubai), citing “substantial losses” on the route, according to a report in The Business Times. It would continue to operate its existing Brisbane-Dubai direct flights.

If this is approved, it would represent yet another reduction of ‘fifth freedom’ routes operated by the airline between Australia and Asia/New Zealand. In the past couple of years, Emirates has cancelled all services between Australia and New Zealand except Sydney-Christchurch, and we’ve also seen the loss of the Sydney-Bangkok service.

If (when) Brisbane-Singapore is cancelled, the only remaining Emirates flight to Asia will be Melbourne-Singapore.

This is a shame, because flying Emirates business and first class to NZ and Asia has been one of the best uses of Qantas Points. Premium award seats were not that hard to find, and the experience – especially on the A380s – was outstanding.

I flew in Emirates’ luxurious A380 first class suites between Sydney and Bangkok and loved it. I also enjoyed A380 business class on the Melbourne-Singapore route.

Emirates has also been cutting capacity on direct routes between Australia and Dubai, reducing services to some cities and downgrading some aircraft from A380s to Boeing 777s (which feature a good first class product, but mediocre business class). Melbourne-Singapore is now operated by a 777, while Sydney-Christchurch remains an A380 service.

With tough competition on Australia-Asia and Australia-NZ routes, I’m not surprised this has happened – but still, it’s disappointing for those of us who like to fly to these places using Qantas Points.

To get news like this delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter: